Road Story from Cameraman
A good friend of mine in Winnipeg sent this in the other day and asked me to post it. Here we go!
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Was coming yesterday, about 6:45pm. I cross the Norwood Bridge into my stomping grounds, St.Boniface. All is fine with my World. I'm in far left lane, there are 3. Coming up to Santa Lucia pizza..notice a red Olds is pulling into the street. I'm ahead of everyone, and I glance in the mirror thinking that car is gonna stop right across a lane or two of oncoming traffic when he realizes what he's doing.
But no.. he doesn't stop.. he pulls right out, and is now coming at me as I'm passing him. He's for sure not turning his wheel and is going to hit me. Lay on horn, hit brakes .. I feel a slight thump. Could have been the ABS kicked in, or the truck shifting somehow.. anyways, we're now side by side, I've got a 2ft curb on my left that I'm about to ride up on, and he's ... maybe an inch to my right... My lane gives way to a left-turn, so I've got some breathing room there now. All this time the old dude in the Olds is looking ahead, 1,000 yard stare, off in his own world.
We get to the next intersection, red light, both stop. I roll the window down and start yelling at him "WTF, idiot! Pull over and lets check for damage" ... his window is up, looking right ahead.. no emotion, no reaction.. Honk some more..doesn't flinch. Thinking he's drunk or stoned on prescription meds, he's not reacting to this situation properly... I figure I'll shadow him a while, get his plate, see if he's weaving.. if I need to call 911 on this guy or not.
Light still red, he suddenly turns right onto Eugenie, but I can't do the same over 2 lanes.. so wait for the green, then see him on Walmer heading towards Lyndale. Catch up to him at Lyndale, grab the plate, follow him down Lyndale to Poulin Drive & St.Mary's. I'm hoping he'll stop.. no.. he heads into the very active Marion/Goulet/St.Mary's intersection against traffic, almost gets t-boned on both sides of the wide street, last I saw was him heading North along the Norwood Bridge.
I called the Police non-emergency line, gave them the info.. was bang on with the year of the car, a 1995 Olds '88. Police came by later that night to look at the truck.. there was no damage.. said they'll go talk to the old coot.
So as I'm heading to bed, it dawns on me that maybe the initial pulling out on the street was just a mistake, a momentary lack of focus, and the rest of this guy's behavior was that of someone on the receiving end of road rage. Was he really zoned out or just too terrified to look at me? Was he meandering recklessly through city streets or trying to get away in fear for his life?
But grow up, eh? Of course someone's gonna honk and yell at you if you pull shit like this. To say that is justification for fearing to stop and exchange details.. bull shit. Don't have to behave like this. Look over, mouth "I'm sorry!" something.. until then I'll assume you shouldn't be behind the wheel and I'll take reasonable means to get your plate and ensure you don't kill someone.
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Was coming yesterday, about 6:45pm. I cross the Norwood Bridge into my stomping grounds, St.Boniface. All is fine with my World. I'm in far left lane, there are 3. Coming up to Santa Lucia pizza..notice a red Olds is pulling into the street. I'm ahead of everyone, and I glance in the mirror thinking that car is gonna stop right across a lane or two of oncoming traffic when he realizes what he's doing.
But no.. he doesn't stop.. he pulls right out, and is now coming at me as I'm passing him. He's for sure not turning his wheel and is going to hit me. Lay on horn, hit brakes .. I feel a slight thump. Could have been the ABS kicked in, or the truck shifting somehow.. anyways, we're now side by side, I've got a 2ft curb on my left that I'm about to ride up on, and he's ... maybe an inch to my right... My lane gives way to a left-turn, so I've got some breathing room there now. All this time the old dude in the Olds is looking ahead, 1,000 yard stare, off in his own world.
We get to the next intersection, red light, both stop. I roll the window down and start yelling at him "WTF, idiot! Pull over and lets check for damage" ... his window is up, looking right ahead.. no emotion, no reaction.. Honk some more..doesn't flinch. Thinking he's drunk or stoned on prescription meds, he's not reacting to this situation properly... I figure I'll shadow him a while, get his plate, see if he's weaving.. if I need to call 911 on this guy or not.
Light still red, he suddenly turns right onto Eugenie, but I can't do the same over 2 lanes.. so wait for the green, then see him on Walmer heading towards Lyndale. Catch up to him at Lyndale, grab the plate, follow him down Lyndale to Poulin Drive & St.Mary's. I'm hoping he'll stop.. no.. he heads into the very active Marion/Goulet/St.Mary's intersection against traffic, almost gets t-boned on both sides of the wide street, last I saw was him heading North along the Norwood Bridge.
I called the Police non-emergency line, gave them the info.. was bang on with the year of the car, a 1995 Olds '88. Police came by later that night to look at the truck.. there was no damage.. said they'll go talk to the old coot.
So as I'm heading to bed, it dawns on me that maybe the initial pulling out on the street was just a mistake, a momentary lack of focus, and the rest of this guy's behavior was that of someone on the receiving end of road rage. Was he really zoned out or just too terrified to look at me? Was he meandering recklessly through city streets or trying to get away in fear for his life?
But grow up, eh? Of course someone's gonna honk and yell at you if you pull shit like this. To say that is justification for fearing to stop and exchange details.. bull shit. Don't have to behave like this. Look over, mouth "I'm sorry!" something.. until then I'll assume you shouldn't be behind the wheel and I'll take reasonable means to get your plate and ensure you don't kill someone.
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